Summary
Orchards are an important tool for generating seed for reforestation in British Columbia. However, orchards can have problems producing enough seed to meet reforestation demands. This can be attributed to low survival rate of cones. This study looks at the survival rate and seed yield for 300 trees across three spruce orchards in B.C. Fifty genotypes were selected to sample and the number of cones on each tree were counted at the beginning of the season and at the end of the season in order to determine cone survival rates. A sample of cones were collected and the seeds were extracted in order to determine the seed yield for each tree. The survival rate of cones between the three orchards is similar while the survival rate between genotypes varies. Overall, seed yields between orchards and between genotypes varied little despite variable cone survival rates between genotypes. The results will help guide managers with selecting which genotypes to include and how many for maximum seed yield. The information will also hep inform roguing decisions as well as planning future orchards.
*this data has been simulated for a course project
*this data has been simulated for a course project